Alcoa Wheel Products Europe appoints new sales director
Alcoa Wheel Products Europe has named Kai Sommerlatte as sales director for the Europe, Middle East and North Africa region, effective 1 May 2015.
Sky Insurance sponsors Evo 2015 track events
Sky Insurance has once again teamed up with Evo Magazine. This time it’s to sponsor the 2015 Evo Track Events at the Bedford Autodrome.
In association with Evo Magazine, Sky Insurance is giving away car spaces to a few lucky prize winners who will get the chance to drive their car around the Bedford Autodrome, one of the UK’s most renowned race tracks. The Bedford Autodrome has over 5 miles of track for car enthusiasts to put their foot on the accelerator. It’s also the only circuit in the UK which you drive around anti-clockwise!
UK beats CO2 emissions targets again
The UK has once again beaten CO2 emissions targets, with the average new car in 2014 posting CO2 emissions 4.2 per cent below this year’s EU-wide target of 130g/km, according to a Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) new report.
The annual SMMT New Car CO2 Report 2015 reveals that carbon tailpipe emissions have fallen for the 17th consecutive year to an all-time low. In 2014, new cars averaged just 124.6g/km, beating last year’s record average by 2.9 per cent and 2007 levels by almost a quarter (24 per cent).
Change to the driving licence – paper counterpart to become obsolete
From 8 June 2015 the paper counterpart of the driving licence (D740) is to be abolished and will no longer be issued by the the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA).
Cars should not become living rooms, warns IAM
The Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) has warned that car manufacturers are building high-tech distractions into their new vehicles and have made interiors so comfortable they are being turned into living rooms. The warning came from IAM chief executive officer Sarah Sillars, who said efforts to reduce distraction factors for motorists are being undone by the relentless pace of technology and eagerness of car makers to pack more gadgets onto dashboards.
Klarius backs Government on air pollution targets
On the back of a recent ruling by the Supreme Court that requires the UK government to take action on air pollution in several major cities, the UK’s largest vehicle emission control component manufacturer Klarius has revealed plans to increase the manufacturing volumes of its pollution reducing diesel particulate filters (DPFs) and catalytic converters (CATs).
Not only that, Klarius has increased its schedule of new-to-range introductions to include far more cars and light commercial vehicles in the near future. Essentially aimed at older cars that produce a higher level of pollution, it’s thought that the ability to ensure all UK replacement emission components meet high quality and performance standards will make a significant contribution to the Government’s task of meeting new stricter pollution reduction targets.
Korean demand for British-built cars up 476% since 2009
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) is to lead a delegation of specialist UK automotive companies in a trade visit to Seoul, as the industry seeks to strengthen business links and partnerships with Korean companies.
The trade mission comes on the back of a record UK-Korea trading year. Korea is now the third biggest Asian export hub for the UK automotive industry – and the eighth largest export market. British car exports to Korea have grown by a record 476 per cent, with 13,337 vehicles shipped to the country last year compared with 2315 in 2009.
CV Show records ‘one of busiest’ years since UK recession
The organiser of the 2015 Commercial Vehicle Show has predicted that official, independently audited figures will prove it was “one of the busiest” editions of the annual event since the UK came out of recession. Stating that the second day in particular (15 April) saw packed halls and long registration queues, Rob Skelton, CV Show Director, said: “There was a buzz about the CV Show this year right from the very start and attendance levels were high.
Pirelli returns alongside all major UK players at CV Show 2015
The strong representation of the tyre and wheel business at April’s Commercial Vehicle Show 2015 proved that the show is considered an increasingly important platform for those within the business. Indeed, Giti Tire’s notably larger stand, effectively re-launching its corporate identity, and the presence of Pirelli after a decade of non-attendance – alongside strong commitments from all the leading UK CV brands; major CV tyre wholesalers, Kirkby Tyres, RH Claydon and Kings Road Tyres; fleet servicing companies; and garage machinery providers.
Bridgestone excited by CV Show possibilities
Bridgestone exhibited from a large stand at this year’s CV Show, saying that the annual event reaped “a number of quantifiable rewards with many new relationships forged”. A contract extension with Axis Fleet Management. Bridgestone also commented that visitor numbers had risen on 2014 figures, suggesting that its Bridgestone Partner network, which promises greater support to dealers and increased reductions in fleet operating costs, was an attractive proposition. The show represented the European launch of Bridgestone Partner, which will consist of over 350 truck tyre specialists across the UK and Ireland implementing Bridgestone’s ‘Total Tyre Care’ approach.
Hankook exhibits increased load index SmartFlex, TL02 trailer tyre at CV Show
Hankook’s Commercial Vehicle Show stand contained its CV tyre portfolio, with the recent adapted products for Euro V and VI vehicles taking centre stage. The SmartFlex AH31 and the TL02 trailer tyre were the key products in this respect, while the manufacturer also emphasised its Alphatread, retread range, which was extended with the addition of the popular 315/70R22.5 size, made available in January 2015. Hankook also hosted a football competition on its large Hall 5 stand, run in conjunction with its sponsorship of the UEFA Europa League.
Collaboration is the future…or is it?
This month I went back to school. Tyre 2015 – the fourth International Tyre Colloquium, hosted by University of Surrey to be precise. While much of the science was beyond those of us that don’t work in R&D, the concepts behind the really technical stuff are fascinating. And what’s more, they offer a unique insight into what is on the horizon in terms of tyre development, vehicle dynamics and indeed original equipment (OE) trends.
Uniwheels approves IPO share allotment
Wheel manufacturer Uniwheels AG has approved the allotment of 4,800,000 shares in a public offering, including 2,400,000 new shares from a share capital increase and 2,400,000 existing shares from the holding of existing shareholder Uniwheels Holding (Malta) Ltd. . Five per cent, or 240,000 of the shares offered have been allocated to retail investors and 4,560,000 (95 per cent) to institutional investors.
How Goodyear’s tyre products and technologies support ongoing growth
Looking around the 2015 CV Show, it’s easy to see that there is a significant amount of Goodyear-shod vehicles being exhibited. One particular example that Goodyear representatives pointed Tyres & Accessories to is the well-known truck manufacturer DAF, which brought a particularly high number of Goodyear-equipped trucks to the show. So, with this in mind, can such a strong showing in the exhibition fitment stakes be seen as a metaphor for the company’s ongoing growth? T&A met with Marc Preedy, Goodyear commercial director UK & Ireland, to find out.